[The usefulness of Cochrane systematic reviews in nephrology]

Systematic reviews (SRs) of the literature are clinical research studies carried out according to rigorous methodological criteria. They are aimed at searching, critically appraising and summarizing all studies with similar characteristics that address the same research question. The Cochrane Collaboration is the main institution that coordinates the production of SRs. The Cochrane Renal Group is one of the 50 research groups of the Cochrane Collaboration and is in charge of SRs in nephrology. This group compiled the Renal Health Library, an annually updated collection of SRs (Cochrane and not) and randomized controlled trials in nephrology, dialysis and renal transplantation. We searched the Renal Health Library to identify SRs useful to answer clinical questions in patients with renal disease and/or following kidney transplant. The SRs identified were summarized and the results were expressed as relative risk, weighted mean difference, standardized mean difference, and 95% confidence intervals. Since the number of randomized controlled trials is quite large and SRs are a reliable summary of the scientific evidence, their distribution is of paramount importance. Here we show several clinical cases where related SRs in the Renal Health Library provide useful guidance for treatment.